Slidell City Council District F candidates have varied backgrounds

Voters selecting the District F Slidell City Council member on March 27 will decide between a high school math teacher who has long held an interest in local politics and a former police captain who says he's not finished serving the public.

Republican candidates Jay Newcomb and Terry Youngs both say their backgrounds make them ideally suited for the City Council seat being vacated by Councilman Jim Devereux, who was appointed last year and cannot run for re-election.

Jay Newcomb and Terry Youngs

Newcomb, 49, who has taught at Slidell High School for 19 years, says working with students and parents has prepared him for responding to constituents.

"When (parents) call me I know they want an immediate response," he said.

Young, 64, retired from the Slidell Police Department after 27 years of service and trained officers at the Slidell Police Academy.

"I am the only candidate in this campaign with a wealth of administrative experience," he said.

Newcomb said he first considered running for the District C seat when Councilwoman Kim Harbison won the at-large election, but decided to wait and seek the seat for a full term. He said knocking on doors in his district has been the most fulfilling part of the campaign.

"I'm just trying to get out and meet people personally; I think that's the most important part."

If elected, Newcomb, a fiscal conservative, said he will find ways to maintain quality services while cutting spending.

"If there is fat in the budget I will request that it be cut," he said.

Newcomb said he will also work to bring economic development to Slidell by working with businesses and high-tech industries to determine how the city can meet their needs.

"People want jobs," he said, "They want business to move here but they don't want smokestacks."

Youngs says his experience with the police department will allow him to "hit the ground running" on the council.

"As a law enforcement you have to do a lot of peacekeeping and dealing with people in less than ideal circumstances," he said.

As a captain with the department, Youngs served as the primary instructor for the police academy, for which he oversaw construction under then-Police Chief Ben Morris. He also administered the academy's $250,000 annual budget.

"All the experiences I've had I want to return back to my city," he said.

If elected, he would work to put Slidell government back into the hands of its citizens by encouraging their participation.

"We need return to the concept of 'Of the people, by the people and for the people,'" he said.

He would also address issues including drainage, and traffic and code enforcement, and touts his ability, as a retiree, to treat the part-time position as a full-time job.

"My goal is to create quality and timely response and representation for the people in my district," he said.

JAY NEWCOMBPersonal
• 49. Born in Cottonport.
• Married, three children.
• Graduated from Franklin Senior High School. Bachelor's degree in secondary mathematics education from Louisiana Tech University in 1988.
• Teacher at Slidell High School for 19 years.
• American Federation of Teachers; Louisiana High School Coaches Association.Political
• Republican since 1978.
• First run for elected office.Philosophy and platform
• Ensure a lean budget that maintains the high quality of city services.
• Ensure residents have quality flood protection.
• Encourage high-tech economic development.
• Streamline the permitting process.
• Maintain neighborhood integrity by encouraging home ownership.

MICHAEL "TERRY" YOUNGSPersonal
• 64. Born in New Orleans.
• Married, three children.
• Graduated from De La Salle High School in New Orleans.
• Retired captain in the Slidell Police Department.
• Air Force, 1966-1970.
• Grace Memorial Baptist Church.Political
• Republican for over 20 years.
• First run for public office.Philosophy and platform
• Encourage citizen involvement in city government.
• Communicate with citizens in District F.
• Improve code enforcement.
• Strengthen city services.
• Strengthen support for Slidell Police Department.